'Founded on the charming musical dream-play by Seymour Hicks and Walter Slaughter' (Advertiser 19 December 1908, p.2), Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company produced Blue Bell in Fairyland with Slaughter's original music but with a specially adapted, updated and localised libretto. Played out over 16 scenes, with 12 set in Fairyland, the pantomime also comprised 12 ballets and 20 specialty acts.
The story revolves around Blue Bell, a pretty little flower girl who has to support two younger sisters by selling her flowers in the London streets. Her visits to fairyland, which occur during her sleep, involve looking for and awakening the selfish Sleepy King (who been asleep for 300 years so as to save his riches rather and not spend it on his people) and the beautiful Will 'O the Wisp. During her waking hours Bluebell also comes into contact with a Mr Joplin, a philanthropic bachelor, and Dick, 'the chief of a brigade of bootblacks.'
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
1907: Theatre Royal, Christchurch; 12 August - [premiere]
1908: Theatre Royal, Adelaide; 26 Dec. 1908 - 2 January 1909
A preview of the forthcoming Pollard Opera Company pantomime.
A preview of the forthcoming Pollard Opera Company pantomime.
